You may be shocked to know the relationship between climate change, coffee, and bees

Pollinators like bees work to produce the beans that you take with your coffee. These pollinators cause about 20-25 percent of the coffee manufactured by accelerating plants’ yield.

According to the University director of Vermont’s Gund Institute for Environment, Taylor Ricketts, bees make the size of beans more uniform by increasing the quality.

A recent study shows that climate change is becoming a problem to both the areas where the coffee is grown and the coffee itself. The research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences boasts that it’s the first ever study to show the effect of climate change to pollinators and coffee.

According to the research, by 2050, the ground necessary to grow coffee may be reduced by 88 percent in Latin America. This goes high more than other estimates. Ricketts said that it had been known for some time now that the rate of climate change is increasing and will endanger agricultural activities in many ways. He added that it would affect the areas where pollinators and coffee live.

Ricketts says it is more of a coincidence that the two co-occur, but they have unique tolerances to heat. He cited an example saying that a bee that reaches its maximum heat tolerance will not follow coffee into areas that feel hotter.

Ricketss say the research pondered if pollinators will exacerbate the issue with climate change and coffee or soften the blow regarding the moves and shrinks of areas good for growing coffee.

Computer models show results

The researchers observed that it was a portion of both using computer models. It was noted that most areas where coffee are grown experience reduced bee species and about 16 percent of the region would be diversified.

Areas prone to these effects

Some areas are expected to experience the loss in coffee growing land due to the climatic change. These areas include Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Honduras. However some areas will have slightly more areas to grow coffee, and these regions include, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Colombia.

The researchers say that about 34-51 percent of areas will not be suitable enough to grow coffee but will experience more bee diversity, and there will be 31-33 percent of coffee distribution in these areas.

Ricketts went on to say that it’s not just a discussion that concerns the rich because many also grow coffee on their little farms. The climate change will alter coffee growth, and this will affect the core living for several people in the vulnerable regions.
Ricketts suggest the following tips as helpful for farmers that will get blown by the climate change.

Maintain habitats for bees that are in coffee-growing regions. Grow coffee under shade trees in a heating climate; farmers may require assistance in areas where it’s impossible to grow coffee.